Fire Safety Tips - Summer Safety

Don't Get Burned This Summer!

Summertime is outdoor fun time. Don’t let your fun turn tragic. Hazards are all around us, but with proper precautions, summertime can be both enjoyable and safe. Protect yourself, your home and property, your family and neighbors, by following these simple guidelines.

Summer Barbecues

Barbecue Grills - Always keep the grill at a safe distance from anything that can burn. Never leave a hot grill unattended, and keep children and pets away. Wear an oven mitt to protect your hands and forearms. Know what to do if you get burned. Flush with cool water for 10 - 15 minutes. Never use creams, salves, or butter on burns. Serious burns with charred skin require immediate medical attention. Never use a barbecue grill indoors. Not only is this a fire hazard, it is a source of carbon monoxide. Use only starter fluid designed for grills when lighting charcoal grills. Never use gasoline! Add dry kindling and more charcoal if needed. Never add liquid fuel to build up a fire, as a flash fire can occur. Make sure charcoal is completely cooled before leaving unattended. Soak coals in water before discarding them. For gas grills, always be sure to turn off the valve when not in use. Never store gas cylinders indoors, or too close to your home. Frequently check for leaks or excessive wear to the cylinder or connections. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions.

Gasoline

Never store gasoline inside your home. A detached and locked storage shed is preferred. Store gasoline in a clearly labeled container approved for gasoline storage. Keep containers away from any heat source or flame. Limit storage to the minimal amount needed to power your equipment. Extinguish smoking materials before fueling, and fuel away from combustibles in an open outdoor area. Never refuel equipment while the motor is running or hot, always allow the equipment to cool first. Never use gasoline for anything other than a motor fuel.

Sun Safety

Sun exposure can cause serious burns and put us at risk for skin cancer. Most exposure occurs during childhood. Protect your children with regular use of a sun screen, even on cloudy days. Most of the sun’s radiation penetrates the clouds and can still cause sunburn. Choose a sun screen that offers both UVA and UVB protection and has an SPF of 15 or higher. Wear protective clothing including a hat, sunglasses, and long shirts and pants. Limit exposure during the sun’s strongest hours, 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M..

Pools and Water Safety

Chemicals commonly sold for home pool care, such as liquid and solid chlorine-based oxidizers, can spontaneously combust if contaminated by organic materials (body fluids, acid rain, etc.) or hydrocarbon liquids such as fuel or motor oil. These fires cause toxic fumes and require evacuation of the area. Always store and use pool chemicals according to manufactures’ recommendations. Keep containers in a dry, isolated area away from heat source and flame. Never store chemicals in the house. Properly discard any punctured or damaged containers. Never leave children unsupervised around water, even if they know how to swim. Always wear a safety approved life jacket when on a lake, river, etc. or boating, water skiing, tubing, etc. Don’t allow running or rough play around water. Backyard pools should have a fence (at least 4 feet high) with a self-closing and self-latching gate surrounding the entire pool.